[Spoken-Word
Intro] (
soft
piano
or
ambient
pad
underneath,
spoken
slowly
and
sincerely) "
This
isn't
a
protest.
It's
a
testimony.
To
every
teacher
who's
ever
filled
out
that
transfer
form
with
trembling
hands
and
half
the
truth —
because
the
whole
truth
felt
too
dangerous
to
say...
This
is
for
you.
I
still
believe
in
this
calling.
I
still
believe
in
the
children
in
front
of
me.
I
just
need
someone
to
believe
in
me
too —
enough
to
sign
the
page,
and
let
a
tired
teacher
breathe
again." (
music
swells —
beat
drops
in,
Verse 1
begins,
rap
cadence)
[Verse 1 — rap flow, street storytelling] Fourteen
years
on
this
chalkboard,
ndalibomba (
I've
toiled),
no
time
to
rest
Marker
in
my
hand
like
a
mic,
but
my
life's
a
mess
They
callin'
me "
civil
servant,"
servin'
till
I'm
civil-dead
Folder
on
your
desk
got
my
future,
but
it's
dust
instead
Napapata (
I'm
begging)
but
I'm
careful,
gotta
watch
my
tone
'Cause
the
minute
I
speak
loud,
boy,
my
transfer's
never
known
Half
the
truth
I'm
servin'
you,
the
other
half's
a
landmine
Say
too
much,
they
brand
me "
problem,"
then
I'm
standin'
in
the
frontline
Bemba
proverb
say
iyo
nswaya
taikula
pamo —
every
crab
don't
grow
the
same
place,
ba
boss
So
why
you
keepin'
all
of
us
where
all
of
us
get
lost?
I
ain't
beggin'
for
a
favor,
I'm
just
beggin'
for
a
chance
Sign
the
line,
unlock
the
door,
let
a
tired
teacher
dance
[Pre-Chorus — sung] Can't
sleep,
can't
eat,
can't
breathe
right
Marriage
strainin'
every
night
Kids
don't
know
their
parent's
ghost
Lord,
this
calling
costs
the
most
[Chorus — sung, melodic] It's
a
deafening
silence,
no
pen
upon
that
line
My
letter's
sittin'
waitin'
like
it's
not
worth
your
time
I
gave
you
all
my
reasons —
well,
the
ones
I
dared
to
show
'Cause
the
ones
I
really
carry,
I'm
afraid
to
let
'em
go
So
hear
me.
Just
hear
me.
Give
my
spirit
room
to
breathe
There's
a
thousand
more
still
waitin'
in
the
silence
behind
of
me
[Verse 2 — rap flow, punchlines + social commentary] There's
a
queue
of
unemployed
behind
me,
hundred
deep,
no
cap
Bushe
kuti
balandapo? (
could
they
even
complain?) —
nah,
they'd
take
my
seat,
just
like
that
So
the
system
plays
us
like
a
chess
board,
pawns
that
can't
retreat
Checkmate
before
we
started,
silent,
standin'
on
our
feet
You
want
quality
of
learners?
Check
the
quality
we're
livin'
in
Empty
tank
can't
drive
nowhere,
empty
cup
got
nothin'
in
Te
ba
bufi (
this
ain't
lies),
this
is
truth
wrapped
in
a
melody
It
ain't
laziness
that's
killin'
us —
it's
a
slow,
quiet
tragedy
Every "
no
reply"
's
a
verdict,
every
silence
is
a
sentence
Servin'
time
for
askin'
questions,
callin'
that "
administrative
patience"
But
I'm
still
here,
still
grindin',
still
showin'
up
at
seven
Just
tryna
get
a
signature —
not
askin'
you
for
heaven
[Pre-Chorus — sung] Can't
sleep,
can't
eat,
can't
breathe
right
Marriage
strainin'
every
night
Kids
don't
know
their
parent's
ghost
Lord,
this
calling
costs
the
most
[Chorus — sung] It's
a
deafening
silence,
no
pen
upon
that
line
My
letter's
sittin'
waitin'
like
it's
not
worth
your
time
I
gave
you
all
my
reasons —
well,
the
ones
I
dared
to
show
'Cause
the
ones
I
really
carry,
I'm
afraid
to
let
'em
go
So
hear
me.
Just
hear
me.
Give
my
spirit
room
to
breathe
There's
a
thousand
more
still
waitin'
in
the
silence
behind
of
me
[Bridge — half-spoken/half-rapped, stripped beat] How
many
folders
on
a
desk
got
somebody
breaking
in
'em?
How
many "
no
responses"
is
a
person
giving
up?
Ubwafya
line
line (
trouble
upon
trouble)
but
I'm
holdin'
up
my
cup
This
silence
isn't
empty —
it's
full
of
us,
unheard
I'm
still
here.
Still
teaching.
Still
hoping
for
the
word.
[Final Chorus — sung, building] It's
a
deafening
silence,
and
I'm
speaking
now
out
loud
Not
to
tear
the
house
down —
just
to
make
my
voice
allowed
I
gave
you
all
my
reasons,
every
single
one
is
true
Renew
me,
and
I
promise —
I'll
give
everything
back
to
you
Just
hear
me.
See
me.
Let
this
calling
breathe
again
There's
a
thousand
more
like
me
still
waiting
on "
amen"
[Outro — sung] Silence...
won't
erase
me...
I'm
still
here...
Hoping
for
an
answer...
Before
this
calling
disappears... [
Spoken-Word
Outro] (
music
drops
to
almost
nothing —
a
single
sustained
chord
or
hum) "
I'm
not
asking
to
be
excused
from
this
work.
I'm
asking
to
be
seen
inside
of
it.
Somewhere
there's
a
form
with
my
name
on
it,
waiting
for
a
signature —
and
somewhere
in
me,
there's
still
a
teacher
waiting
to
come
back
to
life.
I'll
keep
showing
up.
I'll
keep
believing
in
the
child
in
front
of
me.
I
just
hope,
one
day
soon,
someone
believes
in
me
back." (
silence,
or
a
single
soft
piano
note
held
out —
then
stop)